Apparatus for preventing grade-crossing accidents



Dec. 6, 1927. L. H.'HOPEWELL as the bevel gears 17 beng provided between the motor end reel. The motor 16 may preierably be of a reversible type capable of opby leads 25.

;embeclded in the block 22,

eration in one clirecton to mise the pletform end in 211 opposite clirection to lower t-he seme.

It may be clesirablc that the apparatus be automatically controllecl by the train and accorclingly Ineans are provided which may be operated by che train in zipproaching or leavng the ntersecton to mise or lovver the platform as clesrecl. The apparatus is normally maintained in the postion shown in Figure 3, he frame being lowerecl so that the vehicles may pass along the roacl without interference'. VVhen a train approacbes the intersection, 110W- ever, in a clrection nclicaecl by the arrow in Figure 1 the wheels of the tran engage the shoe 21 causng a crcuit to be made which drives che motor 16 in a clireotion to rase che platform 5. The shoe 21 may be conveniently mounted in a block 22, and may be providecl with contacts 23 to engage the fixecl contacts 24: whch may be oonnected to a sutable source of currenc If clesirecl, the electro-magncts 26 may be said electro-Inagnets being connected to the circuit macleby tbe shoe in orcler that as soon as the circuitis completecl the electro-magnets nmy be energzecl to hold the shoe in positon to complete the crcuic. The motor 16 is thus drven to rotate the reel 11 to rase the platform 5.

In order that upward movenent of the platfonn 5 may be stoppecl When the rollers 41 are in proper operative position, the shutofl switch 80 is mounted on the frame 5, consistingof a plunger3l Which s aclaptecl to bridge the contacts 82 to complete the crcuit. VVl1en the platform 5 has been raisecl to its proper operative position, 110W- ever, the end of the plunger 81 cngages che uncler scle of the plae 1 end breaks the circuit causng the motor to stop. At the same time the electro-magnets are cle-energzecl and the shoe 21 is returned to its original position under the nfluence of fbe springs 21.

After the train has passed the intersee tion of the track and the roaclway it is clesirable to lower tl1e platform 5 to withdraw che rollers 4 from the apertures ancl means are providccl for accomplshng this purpose ancl such means may also prefer-Q ably be controllecl by the train.

Accordingly, after the train bus passecl the intersection, the wheels may eng'age tl1e shoe 35 mountecl in the block 86 and wbich is constructeo and operate d in a-manner similar Co t-he sl1oe 21. Movement of the shoe causecl by engagement with the wheels of che train causes the contacts 37 to engage contacts 38 to complete a circuit to cause reverse rotation of the motor 16 lo lmver the platform 5. As in the case of tbe shoe 21 electro-magnets 89 are provided and are energizecl When the circuit is made to holcl the shoe in postion to complete the circuit.

In orcler that lowering movement 01' the platforno 5 may be stopped al: the proper time, however the shut-off swtch 40 le providecl havnga plunger 4:1 Which normally bridges the contacts 42 ho complete the circuit. When the plat-form is lowerecl to inoperatve positi-on the uncl'er sde of the platform engages the plunger 41 causing the circuit to be broken tbus stopping the motor 16 and preventing further lowering of the platform. At the same time the electro combineol eflect of loss of traction due 130 the freely revolving rollers and the severe jolt ing which would be causecl by tbe projection of the rollers through the plate 1 woulcl quickly serve to bring che vehicle co e stop even though che operator failed to apply the brakes. In the event that thevehicle s clrvenet an excessive rate of speed, the bar rer 5' serves to postively stop the vehicle if,all other me'ans fail.

It Will be unclerscoocl that the invention may be variously modfiecl end embocliecl Within the scope of the subjoined,clams I claim as my invention:

1; A11 apparatus for insertion in a roadway, comprsng, in combination, a plate hvng a, plurality' of apertures therein, means to support a plurality of roller's mountecl coincidently wth sadapertures, end means co mise saicl supp 0rting means to cause saicl rollers fo projeot through said apertures. r

2. An apparatus for inserton in a road' way, comprising, in combination, a plate having a plurality of apertures therein, means to support a plurality of rollers mountecl concclently wth.said apertures, end means to mise end lower saicl supportng means to cause sad rollers to p1oject through sad apertures 01 to disappear be neath said plate.

3. A11 apparatus or insertion in a roadwvay, comprsing, in combination, a plate 5, A11 apparatus for nsertion in a road oppose movement of said surface in a direcway near the 1ntersect1on thereof W1th a t1on towarl sa1d mtersectwn.

railway track, comprisng, in combination, In testmony whereof, I have s1gned my means pr-esentng a surface to the wheels of name to thsspecficaton ths 15th day of 5 a vehcle approachng said ntersecton, said J anuary 1926.

surface beng freely movable in a drection uway from sad ntersection, and means to LESTER H. HOPEWELL. 

